The Chargers defense stood tall for another week while the offense did their thing and finished the game with the ball in their hands. It was another complete win that has given the Chargers possession of first place in the AFC West ahead of next week’s home date with the Broncos.
That said, let’s go ahead and dive into the best and worst grades given to the Chargers from Pro Football Focus this week!
Offense
Best (min. 20 snaps)
RB Najee Harris – 75.7 WR Keenan Allen – 75.1 WR Ladd McConkey – 74.3 OT Joe Alt
– 73.4 QB Justin Herbert – 67.9
With Hampton struggling to get much going early on, the Chargers turned to Harris who secured the ball well while churning out the necessary yardage to close out the game against the Raiders. Once again, Herbert finished among the top five offensive players joined by at least two of his receivers.
Alt was also the team’s top lineman to no one’s surprise. He was solid across the board as he was the only lineman to post a pass block grade above 80.0 and run block grade over 65.0.
Worst
TE Tyler Conklin – 44.2
OG Mekhi Becton – 50.4
FB Scott Matlock – 52.4
TE Will Dissly – 53.9
RB Omarion Hampton – 60.2
Conklin finds himself at the bottom of the Chargers offense after a rough, rough night trying to block Maxx Crosby in the run game. Crosby consistently whipped him off the line and made numerous disruptions in the backfield. The same can be said for Dissly. It was a bad night blocking for the tight ends.
After a great first game protecting Herbert, Becton recorded the team’s worst pass block grade at 45.6. He was one of two linemen to allow multiple pressures.
Defense
Best
S Alohi Gilman – 82.4
CB Tarheeb Still – 81.4
CB Donte Jackson – 80.5
LB Daiyan Henley – 78.9
S Tony Jefferson – 77.9
Gilman began the game with a massive play, forcing an interception into the arms of Henley on the first snap of the contest. Still was an unbelievable tackler in space, as well. Both are rightfully on top of the defense. As for Jackson, he had a few good sticks as well and took advantage of his own tipped pass in the end zone by corralling an INT off Derwin James’ PBU.
Henley was CRAZY in this game. The captain recorded a sack, two tackles for loss, and an interception all while dealing with a sinus infection and a 101-degree fever.
Worst
EDGE Caleb Murphy – 43.5
EDGE Bud Dupree – 46.1
LB Troy Dye – 55.4
DT Da’Shawn Hand – 64.4
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 66.7
When Khalil Mack wound up injured early, the Chargers defense needed to rely on both Murphy and Dupree playing an increased number of snaps. Unfortunately both ended up at the bottom of PFF’s defensive grades. Both players missed at least one tackle and Dupree finished the game with zero pressures while earning one of the defense’s three penalties on the night. Murphy was credited with one miss on just one tackle attempt all night.
Don’t let the grades for Hand and Tuipulotu fool here. Overall the defense was so good that even some of the grades in the bottom five are still above average.
